Are you a Christian?
The answer must be a clear yes or a clear no. But if its a clear yes, are you living the life of a Christian or merely taking the title of one?
Matthew 7:21 states, "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
Who or what is lord of your life? Is it The Lord, or is it someone or something else? Have you ever taken the time to consider that?
When you day dream where does your mind wander? Do you think about having a bigger house, living on a beach, driving a fancier car, being intimate with someone? Do you think about these things often? When you have free time what do you do? Do you go to a bar, a concert, shopping? Do any of these things you think about or do take away from anything else in your life? Do they take away your time with God? Do they take away from serving God? Do they distract from His ultimate will for your life?
Is God truly first in your life? Is He the first One you think about upon waking up and going to sleep? Do you communicate with Him throughout the day, not just in request, but in thankfulness, repentance and conversation? Do you make sure you have time for Him before you make time for anything or anyone else?
Furthermore, do you read the Bible? Do you read it daily? Do you study it? Do you implement living in that way into your own life? Do you serve as an example on how to live as a Christian to others? Would God be proud of you? Do you stand out- do you stand out against the world- and for Him?
Romans 12:2 states, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, perfect and pleasing will."
We will always have a lot of questions. Do we go to the only One who knows the answers or do we try to answer those questions ourselves? Do we ignore those answers by covering them with other things?
Matthew 6:33- "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Stop filling that empty void inside you with other people and things. Nothing and no one will ever be great enough to fill it. Start filling it with God. Truly make Him the Lord of your life. For when that day comes, you do not want to be one of the very many who hears, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers." Matthew 7:23.
Matthew 7:14- "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Are you one of the few? What makes you think that? If He truly is the Lord and Savior of your life and you want to live for Him, start by doing so right now. Pause, right now. And meditate on the scripture. Where does He want you? What does He want you doing? And are you willing to do it?
God bless.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Monday, July 27, 2015
God provides
We've all probably heard it- God provides, or to trust in God to provide. But then we've all also probably have had doubts about that. We think- really, does He? Then why am I lacking this or that? Why have I been waiting so long? Why do my prayers remain unanswered?
I fit into both of those. I've heard it but I've also sadly sometimes doubted or questioned it. These past few days I was greatly reminded, God provides.
Discussing the cost of so much driving with someone, I worried about how it's financially doable. Moments later, a check arrived in the mail. God provides.
Someone wanted/needed a certain computer part in order to improve upon something at work, but the item wasn't exactly in the budget. A few days later this person found that exact item just sitting in their home, not knowing it was there. God provides.
After more days than normal being on the go, I wondered how am I going to have the strength to care for another or even do what I need to do. Though weak the day before and after, the one day I needed to be strong I was. God provides.
Again after having done more than I can handle, I asked and prayed for rest and time to recover. Suddenly plans change and I'm given 3 days of absolutely no plans. God provides.
I think these moments happen way more than we realize. Sometimes it's hard to realize it because we often look for something more. We always want more. But what if what God gives is enough. We are not to be indulgent or have gluttony, we are to be thankful, joyful and satisfied with that which we have been blessed with.
God providing is not about asking to win the lotto and then winning it (or rather being disappointed when you don't win it). God providing is not about asking to be cured of an illness and the next day waking up totally healthy. God providing is not about your own selfish desires and wishes. It is about His, even if we don't know exactly what that is. When we live in His will, when we align our desires with His, when we give it up to the Lord and accept whatever He chooses to bless us with, God will always provide. Not my will, but Yours be done. God provides.
Do you have a heart to serve Christ? Do you need the resources to do so? Do you want to advance His kingdom and walk His footsteps? God WILL provide. You only need be still and trust fully in Him.
I fit into both of those. I've heard it but I've also sadly sometimes doubted or questioned it. These past few days I was greatly reminded, God provides.
Discussing the cost of so much driving with someone, I worried about how it's financially doable. Moments later, a check arrived in the mail. God provides.
Someone wanted/needed a certain computer part in order to improve upon something at work, but the item wasn't exactly in the budget. A few days later this person found that exact item just sitting in their home, not knowing it was there. God provides.
After more days than normal being on the go, I wondered how am I going to have the strength to care for another or even do what I need to do. Though weak the day before and after, the one day I needed to be strong I was. God provides.
Again after having done more than I can handle, I asked and prayed for rest and time to recover. Suddenly plans change and I'm given 3 days of absolutely no plans. God provides.
I think these moments happen way more than we realize. Sometimes it's hard to realize it because we often look for something more. We always want more. But what if what God gives is enough. We are not to be indulgent or have gluttony, we are to be thankful, joyful and satisfied with that which we have been blessed with.
God providing is not about asking to win the lotto and then winning it (or rather being disappointed when you don't win it). God providing is not about asking to be cured of an illness and the next day waking up totally healthy. God providing is not about your own selfish desires and wishes. It is about His, even if we don't know exactly what that is. When we live in His will, when we align our desires with His, when we give it up to the Lord and accept whatever He chooses to bless us with, God will always provide. Not my will, but Yours be done. God provides.
Do you have a heart to serve Christ? Do you need the resources to do so? Do you want to advance His kingdom and walk His footsteps? God WILL provide. You only need be still and trust fully in Him.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Someone wants this??
"You're the person other people look at and think 'I want that... I want what she has.'" Would any of you really think that about me?
My situation is insane. I do NOT like what life has presented me. I do not like having a disability, being divorced, having to live with my parents. And the person who said this I'm sure doesn't want any of that either.
But someone said this to me, and it was the biggest compliment I've ever received. That's because that compliment truly wasn't even about me. It was about this...
My relationship with Jesus. My ability to look past my situation and seek Him in all things. To not dwell on the bad but use as a stepping stone for the good. To love as an action, as a verb, not merely a fleeting feeling.
What that person saw in me, was Jesus. That compliment was about Him. And that is what I mean by the best compliment I have ever received. I am allowing myself to be a vessel for Jesus.
Here's the thing. You can be that vessel for Jesus too. You can lead others to Christ. You can shine the light in the midst of darkness. You can receive the same compliment and have others look at you and think ' I want that.' And if you are someone saying that about someone else, you can have it too!
It doesn't matter if you are disabled, divorced, lost your job, in debt, etc. etc. It's not about the obstacle it's about how you overcome it. It's about Him, through you. It's about being the light in this dark world. It's about living to advance the kingdom of heaven, not to advance this sometimes horrid world. No matter what your situation, YOU can do that.
So as you struggle to walk, to breathe, to get in the car and go to work, to pay another bill, to put a smile on your face... don't think about that, think about Him. He can and wants to get you through each and every thing. Maybe not how you imagined, but He can see the whole picture while we cannot. So trust in Him and just make the best of this crazy ride called life. We all have a purpose... go out there and let Him lead you to yours. It may be as simple as letting God love others through you... and that purpose is huge. Don't allow anyone to tell you otherwise. YOUR purpose is huge. God bless.
My situation is insane. I do NOT like what life has presented me. I do not like having a disability, being divorced, having to live with my parents. And the person who said this I'm sure doesn't want any of that either.
But someone said this to me, and it was the biggest compliment I've ever received. That's because that compliment truly wasn't even about me. It was about this...
My relationship with Jesus. My ability to look past my situation and seek Him in all things. To not dwell on the bad but use as a stepping stone for the good. To love as an action, as a verb, not merely a fleeting feeling.
What that person saw in me, was Jesus. That compliment was about Him. And that is what I mean by the best compliment I have ever received. I am allowing myself to be a vessel for Jesus.
Here's the thing. You can be that vessel for Jesus too. You can lead others to Christ. You can shine the light in the midst of darkness. You can receive the same compliment and have others look at you and think ' I want that.' And if you are someone saying that about someone else, you can have it too!
It doesn't matter if you are disabled, divorced, lost your job, in debt, etc. etc. It's not about the obstacle it's about how you overcome it. It's about Him, through you. It's about being the light in this dark world. It's about living to advance the kingdom of heaven, not to advance this sometimes horrid world. No matter what your situation, YOU can do that.
So as you struggle to walk, to breathe, to get in the car and go to work, to pay another bill, to put a smile on your face... don't think about that, think about Him. He can and wants to get you through each and every thing. Maybe not how you imagined, but He can see the whole picture while we cannot. So trust in Him and just make the best of this crazy ride called life. We all have a purpose... go out there and let Him lead you to yours. It may be as simple as letting God love others through you... and that purpose is huge. Don't allow anyone to tell you otherwise. YOUR purpose is huge. God bless.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Independence day for the dependent
4th of July. Most people are out at picnics or grilling, playing bocce ball and bags, maybe laying out in the sun or at least enjoying fireworks.
Then there are the chronically sick... the ones who look normal but aren't. We think back to the days we used to plan a full day and enjoy every bit of it. We think back to eating whatever was at the picnic without thinking twice about it. We think back to playing bocce ball, bags, softball, going for a run or a swim. We think back to those days filled with smiles, family and friends. And then we get sad, because that life we used to live is gone.
Yesterday I got caught up in this. Who would have thought 4th of July of all holidays would be the one to get me down, but it did. Thinking back not only to my old life of good health, but my old life of having been married. Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't want that person back after he left me for another, but sometimes it still makes me sad... there is no way to erase the past. Being divorced will now always be a part of me. I don't like that one bit. Once you get off on a bad thought it spirals around to a bunch more of those bad thoughts.
In the past, my 4th of July would consist of a parade in the morning and an all day picnic after. Since being sick, I don't go to the picnic anymore. I can't be out in the heat all day nor do I want to risk being right in the middle of tick-ville. The past 2 years I still went to the parade in the morning. This year I didn't plan to do that for multiple reasons, one being that mornings are very hard for me.
I woke up yesterday, the 4th, feeling sad. How could I not do anything at all for the first time in my life? I refused to let that happen. So I rushed to get ready and went to the parade with my mom. I brought an umbrella to block the sun, yet it still felt pretty warm. If I would have just stayed in after that, I probably would have been ok. But no, I was stubborn.
Again I got sad, thinking about everyone else out and about and me sitting inside by myself. So what did I do? Something I should not have. I went to a second parade. Little did I know this parade was much larger and parking was much further. Also being later in the day, it was hotter. Too hot, and too far of a walk. I should have left as soon as I realized any one of those things but I didn't. I wanted to be normal, or at least pretend to be for a day. So I found a spot and sat through another parade. Again I had the umbrella, but that heat was just too much.
Today I woke up sad again, but for a different reason. I knew immediately there was no way I was making it to church. My back, arms, chest and core was all very weak. This means my breathing/diaphragm is at risk of slowing down or stopping on me. I remembered the last time my MG flared up due to heat I spent 6 weeks in a hospital. So I knew I had to rest and do nothing today to try to prevent that.
You see, there are 3 main things that make Myasthenia Gravis worse: exercise/repeated use of a muscle, stress and heat. I don't really know why it happens but heat affects the muscle as if you were working out, and working out is something most with MG cannot do. Heat can quickly make you go from walking, talking and feeling decent to a trip to the hospital with emergency treatment for breathing crisis. Heat means anything over like 70some degrees. Heat means any length of time. Heat means in the sun or blocking the sun. Heat can even mean being indoors when it's not cool enough with air circulating.
These are the things people don't quite understand. I mean they really don't make much sense so how could people understand them. But it's important. I wish there was a community for all chronically sick people to live in. So we could have our own little indoor air conditioned, quiet, lay on the couch, lots of water available- party. But there is no such thing. So I have to accept that I am different and I have to live differently, which often means missing out on many things.
But I'll let this be a lesson to me. By putting my earthly desires first, I missed out on what truly is first in my life- going to church, God. And that's what I have to remember. Every time I have to miss an event... Every time someone makes me feel bad that I'm not working in the traditional sense... Every time I'm reminded of all the things I can't do... I will think about what comes first: God. I am here for Him. Not for earthly desires, not to please others, not to be molded into who others want me to be. But to be molded into who He wants me to be. And if that just means studying His word, reading, writing, researching and conversing with others online, so be it. It's enough if God says so. Maybe He's preparing me for something much greater. And maybe not. But, it's really not about me. And it took the heat and an MG flare to bring that back into focus.
Then there are the chronically sick... the ones who look normal but aren't. We think back to the days we used to plan a full day and enjoy every bit of it. We think back to eating whatever was at the picnic without thinking twice about it. We think back to playing bocce ball, bags, softball, going for a run or a swim. We think back to those days filled with smiles, family and friends. And then we get sad, because that life we used to live is gone.
Yesterday I got caught up in this. Who would have thought 4th of July of all holidays would be the one to get me down, but it did. Thinking back not only to my old life of good health, but my old life of having been married. Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't want that person back after he left me for another, but sometimes it still makes me sad... there is no way to erase the past. Being divorced will now always be a part of me. I don't like that one bit. Once you get off on a bad thought it spirals around to a bunch more of those bad thoughts.
In the past, my 4th of July would consist of a parade in the morning and an all day picnic after. Since being sick, I don't go to the picnic anymore. I can't be out in the heat all day nor do I want to risk being right in the middle of tick-ville. The past 2 years I still went to the parade in the morning. This year I didn't plan to do that for multiple reasons, one being that mornings are very hard for me.
I woke up yesterday, the 4th, feeling sad. How could I not do anything at all for the first time in my life? I refused to let that happen. So I rushed to get ready and went to the parade with my mom. I brought an umbrella to block the sun, yet it still felt pretty warm. If I would have just stayed in after that, I probably would have been ok. But no, I was stubborn.
Again I got sad, thinking about everyone else out and about and me sitting inside by myself. So what did I do? Something I should not have. I went to a second parade. Little did I know this parade was much larger and parking was much further. Also being later in the day, it was hotter. Too hot, and too far of a walk. I should have left as soon as I realized any one of those things but I didn't. I wanted to be normal, or at least pretend to be for a day. So I found a spot and sat through another parade. Again I had the umbrella, but that heat was just too much.
Today I woke up sad again, but for a different reason. I knew immediately there was no way I was making it to church. My back, arms, chest and core was all very weak. This means my breathing/diaphragm is at risk of slowing down or stopping on me. I remembered the last time my MG flared up due to heat I spent 6 weeks in a hospital. So I knew I had to rest and do nothing today to try to prevent that.
You see, there are 3 main things that make Myasthenia Gravis worse: exercise/repeated use of a muscle, stress and heat. I don't really know why it happens but heat affects the muscle as if you were working out, and working out is something most with MG cannot do. Heat can quickly make you go from walking, talking and feeling decent to a trip to the hospital with emergency treatment for breathing crisis. Heat means anything over like 70some degrees. Heat means any length of time. Heat means in the sun or blocking the sun. Heat can even mean being indoors when it's not cool enough with air circulating.
These are the things people don't quite understand. I mean they really don't make much sense so how could people understand them. But it's important. I wish there was a community for all chronically sick people to live in. So we could have our own little indoor air conditioned, quiet, lay on the couch, lots of water available- party. But there is no such thing. So I have to accept that I am different and I have to live differently, which often means missing out on many things.
But I'll let this be a lesson to me. By putting my earthly desires first, I missed out on what truly is first in my life- going to church, God. And that's what I have to remember. Every time I have to miss an event... Every time someone makes me feel bad that I'm not working in the traditional sense... Every time I'm reminded of all the things I can't do... I will think about what comes first: God. I am here for Him. Not for earthly desires, not to please others, not to be molded into who others want me to be. But to be molded into who He wants me to be. And if that just means studying His word, reading, writing, researching and conversing with others online, so be it. It's enough if God says so. Maybe He's preparing me for something much greater. And maybe not. But, it's really not about me. And it took the heat and an MG flare to bring that back into focus.
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